Pygoras: The Goat for All Seasons/Reasons
The Pygora Goat is a medium-size fiber goat developed from crossing registered Angora and Pygmy goats. Pygoras draw their docility and fleece from the Angora and their colors, hardiness and playfulness from the Pygmy. They are rapidly gaining popularity and are now being raised all across the continent. They thrive in many diverse climates from Maine to California, British Columbia to Florida. Although bred primarily for fiber, Pygora goats are also well suited as pets, browsers, and meat & milk producers. Because of their size and friendly dispositions, youngsters often choose them for 4-H projects.

Origin of the Pygora Breed
Katharine Jorgenson began the Pygora breed in Oregon in 1978. Inspired by the colored, curly goats she saw on the Navajo Indian Reservation in 1967, Katharine purchased a registered Angora doe to breed to a Pygmy buck. She wanted an animal that would produce fine fiber for hand spinning. Originally, Katharine was looking for an animal that produced silver gray mohair fleece. She discovered that, using a careful breeding program, the original crossbred Pygora could evolve into three very different fleece types. On one end (type “C”), Pygora fleece meets international cashmere standards. On the other (type “A”) is a very fine, colored mohair that will not coarsen or lose style as the animals ages. It is not surprising that Pygora fiber has become widely prized by hand spinners and other fiber craftspeople everywhere.

Beauty More Than Skin Deep
The Pygora is first and foremost a fiber-producing animal; however, conformation is not to be ignored. All Pygoras must remain functional, healthy animals, well able to forage and reproduce with minimal human intervention. Their conformation needs to reflect these qualities.

Breed Standards, creating the “Pygora” as a cross between an American Angora Goat Breeders Association (AAGBA) Angora and a National Pygmy Goat Association (NPGA) Pygmy were developed in 1990. These Standards specify that Angora/Pygmy mixtures may contain up to, but not more than, 75% of one of the parent breeds. A minimum height requirement of 18 inches for does and 23 inches for bucks is required. There is no maximum height restriction. Most kids weigh about 5 pounds at birth. Does range in weight from 65-75 pounds, while bucks and wethers range from 75-95 pounds.

Breed Standards permit goats with or without horns. The majority of Pygora breeders do disbud their animals at an early age for their own convenience (keeps animals from getting hung up in feeders and fences, for example) or to provide a safer animal for youngsters. Whether or not to disbud is a personal preference or decision.

All Pygmy colors and their dilutions plus white are acceptable. Color markings resembling other breeds do not meet Pygora breed standards.

Coats of Many Colors-and Kinds
Pygoras have inherited the best fiber characteristics of both the Angora goat that produces mohair and a Pygmy that produces a very fine “down”. They grow a fleece that can take on many qualities (depending on the fiber type), the fiber maintains its fineness as the animals ages, and-when spun-an exquisite yarn results. The fiber is very versatile in that it can be handspun; it can be knitted, crocheted or woven; it can be felted; or used to make wigs or beards, etc. on dolls.

Pygora goats produce three distinct types of fleece: type A, similar to the fleece of an Angora goat; type B, more like a blend of the angora fiber and the pygmy fiber; and type C, like cashmere. Between these types, there are variations and combinations-just as sheep often produce variations in fleece even within the same breed.

Most Pygoras produce from 6 ounces to 2 pounds of fiber per shearing. Many type As or A/Bs are clipped two-or even three-times a year. True type A animals must be shorn or clipped. Types B and C will shed (blow) their fleeces in the spring if the fiber is not removed. Goats with B and C type fleeces may be shorn, combed, or plucked. All types will matt if left too long on the animal.

Generally, with the exception of some A type fleeces, the Pygora goat produces guard hair and a “down”. In many cases, it is desirable to remove guard hairs from the down before spinning the fiber. The removal process may be done commercially or by hand. Dehairing by hand produces a wonderful, soft product but is time and labor-intensive. New and more accessible commercial dehairing equipment promises to make ready-to-spin Pygora fiber much more plentiful and available.

Pygora fiber takes color well and dyes ranging from Kool-aid to natural to commercial products produce a full range of fiber colors and shades. Equally exciting, on the other hand, are the colors found in the natural Pygora fiber itself. Most Pygora breeders find it is useful to keep a herd of both white and colored animals.

The Pygora Breeders Association
In 1987, the Pygora Breeders Association (PBA) was begun with ten people who had been breeding Pygoras. By that time, there appeared to be consistency and quality to Pygoras. They seemed to be producing the same type of goat with each generation, and a different goat from the parent breeds of Angora and Pygmy. Wherever they were on display, Pygora goats generated strong interest. A Pygora registry was begun in 1987 and, since then, the Pygora herd book includes only Pygoras born of registered parents.

The Pygora Breeders Association is now firmly established and has over 100 members from across the US and Canada. It has By Laws, an elected Board with representation from all regions of the US, a quarterly newsletter, breeders and membership directories and a web site: http://www.pba-pygora.com. Sanctioned Pygora Shows with trained and certified judges are held throughout the year.